On the heels of a year in which Atlanta hosted the SEC championship game, the NFC Championship Game and the 2013 NCAA Final Four, officials are doing everything in their power to ensure that Atlanta is a premier destination for any kind of sporting event that can be held in a stadium.

‘Futuristic adaptation’

As Max Blau of CLATL.com reported, potential options for a new stadium have started to leak out, and include different mock-ups that designers are presenting to interested parties as the process continues to move forward. One is a “Pantheon” look, a futuristic adaptation of a domed stadium. Another is a “Solarium” approach, one that features a retractable roof and is more along the lines of what we’ve seen with new stadiums that have been built over the past few years.

‘100-yard bar’

The team and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority struck a deal with 360 Architecture, the Kansas City-based company, to head up the project, which is expected to be completed in time for the Falcons’ opening game in 2017 (h/t The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). 360 Architecture is the same group in charge of the blueprint for MetLife Stadium, the current home of the New York Jets and Giants.

If early drawings and ideas from the company’s presentation are any indication, this new home for the Falcons could blow every other NFL stadium (including Jerry Jones’ creation for the Dallas Cowboys) out of the water. Some of those ideas include a “100-yard bar,” an IMAX-like setup for fans who are sitting in the cheap seats, a “man cave” for patrons who want to feel like they are still at home watching the game and seats that actually vibrate when a big hit happens on the field.

Do you like the concept for the Atlanta Falcons’ new stadium? Which would you favor — the Pantheon or the Solarium?

A homeless man in Kansas City, Mo., made national headlines more than a week ago when he returned a valuable platinum and diamond engagement ring accidentally dropped into his cup of change by a woman offering some extra cash. Now, hundreds of donors have contributed more than $16,000 to a page on GiveForward.com to help Billy Ray Harris get his life back on track.

‘Unintended donation’

KCTV first did a story on the unintended donation Feb. 9. Sarah Darling had put her engagement ring in her change purse because it was bothering her finger. A chance encounter with Harris on the street led Darling to give the man her loose change. It was only a day later that she realized her engagement ring was missing. When she came back to Harris on the same street, he still had the ring and gave it back to her.

The New York Daily News reveals when the woman and her husband returned, they gave the homeless man all the cash she had on her — around $40 to $60. Then Bill Krejci, who is a designer, was inspired by some media outlets’ websites where people asked how they could help. Enter GiveForward.com.

‘Character trait’

For the next 90 days, anyone can donate money for Harris. The homeless man cited his reverend grandfather, who raised him since he was 6 months old, as the reason for his character trait that returned the ring to the woman. Individual donations from as little as $5 up to $500 have poured into GiveForward.com for Harris. The goal was the raise $1,000 for Harris in three months. Instead, more than $16,000 has been given to the cause in just a few days.

MyFoxLubbock.com reports Edwin Harris, Billy Ray’s older brother, wants his sibling to come home to Lubbock, Texas. The brothers lost touch and have tried to find each other over the past 27 years.

Were you touched with Billy Ray Harris’ story of honesty and hope for a new life? Tell us about the most recent good deed that you’ve done!